Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PW617F-E Turbofan Engines

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 162 (Monday, August 23, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51659-51661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20714]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0246; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-16-AD; 
Amendment 39-16391; AD 2010-17-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PW617F-E 
Turbofan Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    A PW617F-E engine powered twin engined aircraft had recently 
experienced an uncommanded power reduction on one of its engines. 
Investigation showed that the Fuel Filter Bypass Valve poppet in the 
Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger (FOHE) on that engine had worn through the 
housing seat, allowing unfiltered fuel and debris to contaminate the 
Fuel Metering Unit (FMU), resulting in fuel flow drop and subsequent 
power reduction.
    Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. issued an Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. PW600-72-A66019 to inspect and replace any discrepant 
valve with the same type new valve. The inspection results confirmed 
that failure of a worn through poppet is dormant and it can affect 
both engines at the same time that could result in an unsafe 
condition on PW617F-E powered aircraft.

We are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded power reduction, which 
could result in the inability to continue safe flight and safe landing.

DATES: This AD becomes effective September 27, 2010. The Director of 
the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in this AD as of September 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, 
Engine Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 
New England Executive Park; Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. 
That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2010 (75 FR 
27491). That NPRM proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the 
specified products. The MCAI states that:

    A PW617F-E engine powered twin engined aircraft had recently 
experienced an uncommanded power reduction on one of its engines. 
Investigation showed that the Fuel Filter Bypass Valve poppet in the 
FOHE on that engine had worn through the housing seat, allowing 
unfiltered fuel and debris to contaminate the FMU, resulting in fuel 
flow drop and subsequent power reduction.
    Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. issued an ASB No. PW600-72-A66019 
to inspect and replace any discrepant valve with the same type new 
valve. The inspection results confirmed that failure of a worn 
through poppet is dormant and it can affect both engines at the same 
time that could result in an unsafe condition on PW617F-E powered 
aircraft.
    On November 23, 2009, Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. issued an ASB 
No. PW600-72-A66021 that introduced a new fuel Filter Bypass Valve 
Assembly with an improved design poppet to help alleviate the 
subject poppet wear problem. This AD is issued to mandate 
replacement of the FOHE fuel filter bypass valve on all PW617F-E 
engines as per Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. ASB No. PW600-72-A66021 
instructions.

[[Page 51660]]

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about 77 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
also estimate that it will take about 3.5 work-hours per engine to 
comply with this AD. The average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 
Required parts will cost about $22,582 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to be 
$1,761,722.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (phone (800) 647-5527) is provided in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2010-17-01 Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (formerly Pratt & Whitney 
Canada, Inc.): Amendment 39-16391. Docket No. FAA-2010-0246; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-16-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective 
September 27, 2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. PW617F-E 
turbofan engines with fuel/oil heat exchanger (FOHE) part number (P/
N) 35C4540-01 installed. These engines are installed on, but not 
limited to, Empresa Brasileira de Aeron[aacute]utica S.A (EMB) 500 
airplanes.

Reason

    (d) This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another 
country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation 
product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:
    A PW617F-E engine powered twin engined aircraft had recently 
experienced an uncommanded power reduction on one of its engines. 
Investigation showed that the Fuel Filter Bypass Valve poppet in the 
FOHE on that engine had worn through the housing seat, allowing 
unfiltered fuel and debris to contaminate the Fuel Metering Unit, 
resulting in fuel flow drop and subsequent power reduction.
    Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. issued an Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. PW600-72-A66019 to inspect and replace any discrepant 
valve with the same type new valve. The inspection results confirmed 
that failure of a worn through poppet is dormant and it can affect 
both engines at the same time that could result in an unsafe 
condition on PW617F-E powered aircraft.

We are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded power reduction, which 
could result in the inability to continue safe flight and safe 
landing.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, replace the FOHE fuel filter bypass 
poppet valve with a larger fuel filter bypass poppet valve within 25 
hours of the effective date of the AD. Use paragraph 3.A. of the 
Accomplishment Instructions of Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. ASB No. 
PW600-72-A66021, Revision 1, dated January 7, 2010, to do the 
replacement.

Previous Credit

    (f) A fuel filter bypass poppet valve replacement performed 
before the effective date of this AD using Pratt & Whitney Canada 
Corp. ASB No. PW600-72-A66021, dated November 23, 2009, satisfies 
the replacement requirement of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (g) The Manager, Engine Certification Office, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to MCAI Transport Canada Airworthiness Directive CF-
2010-02, dated January 20, 2010, for related information.
    (i) Contact James Lawrence, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park; Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7176; fax (781) 238-
7199, for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. ASB No. PW600-72-
A66021, Revision 1, dated January 7, 2010 to do the replacement 
required by this AD.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Contact Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp., 1000 Marie-Victorin, 
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, J4G 1A1;

[[Page 51661]]

telephone 800-268-8000; fax 450-647-2888; Web site: http://www.pwc.ca.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National Archives 
and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go 
to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 30, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-20714 Filed 8-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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